Super Bowl show prompts diva wars

February 2, 2013 at 7:41PM

On Sunday night, Beyonce will rock the Super Bowl. We know she has powerful pipes (even if she's lip-syncing) and can dazzle with her dance moves. But how does she stack up against Lady Gaga, Pink and Rihanna -- other big-voiced, big-spectacle pop divas coming to St. Paul this winter?

FILE - This May 7, 2012 file photo shows Beyonce Knowles at the Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute gala benefit in New York. Beyonce will sing the national anthem at President Barack Obama's inauguration ceremony. The committee planning the Jan. 21 event also announced Wednesday that Kelly Clarkson will perform "My Country `Tis of Thee" and James Taylor will sing "America the Beautiful" at the swearing-in ceremony on the Capitol's west front.
(Associated Press - Ap/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Beyoncé
Age: 31
See her: Sunday at the Super Bowl
What sets her apart from the others? Her stable home life.
Her guy: Hip-hop mogul Jay-Z.
No. 1 pop songs: 5
U.S. albums sold: 13 million
Lip syncs: Indeed
Cause: Childhood obesity
In one word: Fierce

Lady Gaga

Lady Gaga
(Susan Hogan — Associated Press/The Minnesota Star Tribune)


Age: 26
See her: Wednesday at Xcel Energy Center
What sets her apart from the others? She's hypercreative.
Her guy: Actor Taylor Kinney
No. 1 pop songs: 3
U.S. albums sold: 7 million
Lip syncs: Some
Cause: Anti-bullying
In one word: Crazy

Pink

(The Minnesota Star Tribune)


Age: 33
See her: March 19 at Xcel
What sets her apart from the others? She's a physical daredevil.
Her guy: Motocross star Carey Hart
No. 1 pop songs: 3
U.S. albums sold: 13 million
Lip syncs: Only when she's upside down
Cause: PETA
In one word: Daring

Rihanna

U.S. singer Rihanna.
(Associated Press/The Minnesota Star Tribune)


Age: 24
See her: March 24 at Xcel
What sets her apart from the others? She's too hot for prime time.
Her guy: R&B star Chris Brown.
No. 1 pop songs: 10
U.S. albums sold: 9 million
Lip syncs: Yes
Cause: Terminally ill kids
In one word: Unapologetic

Jon Bream • 612-673-1719

Beyonce performed at Target Center in Minneapolis in July 2009. (The Minnesota Star Tribune)
about the writer

about the writer

Jon Bream

Critic / Reporter

Jon Bream has been a music critic at the Star Tribune since 1975, making him the longest tenured pop critic at a U.S. daily newspaper. He has attended more than 8,000 concerts and written four books (on Prince, Led Zeppelin, Neil Diamond and Bob Dylan). Thus far, he has ignored readers’ suggestions that he take a music-appreciation class.

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